the Epic, Volume 58, Issue 2, November 7, 2022 by the Epic

Sophie Jaquish and Derek Li sing through highs and lows

Meet new Viking athletic trainer: Scott Leveau

pg. 10 || features

Volume 58 Issue 2 | November 07, 2022

Exploring cultural background through Indian Classical Dance pg. 8 || features

pg. 15 || sports

Lynbrook High School, 1280 Johnson Ave., San Jose, CA 95129

Girls varsity golf finishes regular season undefeated

Homecoming:

BY DEEKSHA RAJ

oncluding their season undefeated as No. 1 in the De Anza league, Lynbrook girl’s varsity golf is grateful for the fun and skilled team that they have built. Their consistent winning has raised their team spirit and led them to build unique team dynamics. Compared to their 8-2 winning record in the 2021-22 season, the team is very proud of their improvement.

Creating a more supportive environment story on pg. 6 || opinion

story continues on pg. 16 || sports

USED WITH PERMISSION FROM JIBIN LEE

Flexing the issue: male body image BY JASON SHAN AND SAMIYA ANWAR

“W

PHOTO BY CATHERINE ZHOU AND AMY LIU

hen he’s skinny, scrawny and looks like he hasn’t eaten in days.” “When he looks like a Greek God statue.” Similar detrimental statements fill social media feeds, perpetuating an unhealthy ideal of what a male body should look like. Whether promising the physique of a bodybuilder through a specific workout regimen or romanticizing severely underweight statures, this stringent body culture can promote harmful dieting and exercise practices to impressionable teenage boys. A man’s “ideal body” has shifted dramatically throughout the past century. During the “Gilded Age” — late 1800s to the early 1900s — having a wider waist indicated a higher economic status, as a heavier weight was proof of one’s ability to afford an abundance of food. From the 1920s until the late 1950s, the “Golden Age” shifted the standard from being overweight to lean and athletic. This was a result of Hollywood actors often being required to be toned for their roles, heroizing muscular figures.

story continues on pg. 14 || sports

Alumni: Jane Lee and Vishal Kalyanasundaram PHOTOS BY LARRY WANG

Lynbrook’s first programming competition BY LARRY WANG

tudents frantically typed up code and prepared submissions in the waning minutes of Lynbrook’s firstever programming competition. Lynbrook ProCo, hosted in collaboration between the Computer Science and Web Development clubs on Oct. 23, consisted of 15 teams competing for prizes collectively worth more than $150. Sophomores Eric Hsu, Jiahe Lu and Brian Xue won the competition, freshmen Brian Law and Matthew Xia came in second place and freshman Aaron Ma trailed close behind in third. In the competition, teams of up to four students were given a four-hour unproctored window to collaborate on solving 12 coding problems that were inspired by the USA Computing Olympiad.

story continues on pg. 4 || news

Sections News: pg. 2-4

Opinion: pg. 5-7 Features: pg. 8-10

In-Depth: pg. 11-13 Sports: pg. 14-16

Website: lhsepic.com Instagram: @lhs.epic

BY EMILY PEDROZA AND VALERIE SHU

urled up next to a dimly-lit laptop, Jane Lee uploads a new recipe to her Asian-fusion dessert blog, Cake Barn. An alumnus of Lynbrook, Lee spends her days working in tech and cultivates her passion for food at night. Her blog displays an assortment of sun-lit bakery items, from pandan jelly to sesame cream puffs, connecting communities one recipe at a time.

ans are enamored by the drama that unfolds on Netflix’s “Indian Matchmaking” as Vishal Kalyanasundaram rises from his seat and leaves the restaurant table, much to the shock of reality TV star Nadia Jagessar. Despite being a rising star, he shares his background with Lynbrook students as an alumni and cherishes his high school years, carrying Lynbrook’s spirit with him.

story continues on pg. 10 || features

NEWS

the Epic

Letter from the Editors

“Gender in Classrooms” project takes effect BY MEERA NAMBIAR

To create this project, Dhanda worked with Principal Maria Jackson and Assistant n hopes of making the Lynbrook Principal Yukari Salazar to find feasible community a more inclusive place solutions that would help students feel for LGBTQ+ students, senior Venus heard. D h a n d a “As someone created the who’s part of “Gender in Lynbrook’s Classrooms” G e n d e r Girl Scouts Sexuality project, in Alliance and which she the LGBTQ+ presented community, I a workshop noticed that I to teachers was very lucky at a monthly to have people staff meeting around me on Oct. 12 who were okay and created with me being PHOTO BY MEERA NAMBIAR a website open about with public Senior Venus Dhanda led “Gender in Classrooms” to my identity,” resources. Dhanda said. promote inclusivity in classrooms. T h ro u g h “But I knew that the Girls Scouts Gold Award project, which a lot of other people didn’t have that same aims to promote long-lasting changes in support system, and I didn’t want kids to deal the community, Dhanda wanted to help with that because of who they are.” queer individuals who struggled to gain Dhanda interviewed teachers like GSA support from family and teachers. Rather adviser Jessica Lu for background information than focusing on how queer individuals and measures teachers can take to promote could adapt to uncomfortable situations, inclusivity to add in the presentation, which Dhanda decided to provide others with focused on how to ensure that students resources to make them feel welcomed. can feel respected and safe and included “I wanted to help educate teachers on practices that staff can implement to be more how to approach queer students,” Dhanda inclusive. Dhanda also included scenarios to said. “Teachers have a lot of influence help staff visualize situations queer students over their students, considering they’re might experience in classrooms. some of the most important adults in “I hope that teachers implement these students’ lives.” little things and that queer students feel more

I Dear Vikings, We hope you all had a spooky Halloween! Seniors, congratulations on submitting early applications. Only two more months to go! As we head into the final stretch of the semester, we would like to welcome you to Issue 2: learn about Lynbrook’s first programming competition in News; uncover the politicization of school boards in Opinion; explore stories of alumni in Features; delve into LGBTQ+ representation in the media in In-Depth and congratulate Lynbrook’s girls golf team for a successful season in Sports. Did you know that we also have content exclusively online? Visit our website lhsepic.com for a review of Taylor Swift’s monumental album Midnights. If you’re feeling nostalgic about Homecoming, take a travel back in time through a behind the scenes video featuring class officers, leaders and participants on our Youtube. We encourage you to submit Letters to the Editors, your opinions on any published stories this year such as our Staff Editorial reevaluating Lynbrook’s Homecoming culture or our In-Depth story about male body image. We’re excited to read your Guest Columns, first-person articles that focus on the your perspective and experiences, and would love to celebrate our first Guest Column, written by Minchae Kim on her experiences with cheerleading. Submission guidelines can be found at lhsepic.com/ submissions and those chosen will be published on print and/or our website. Thank you for your readership. Stay in touch for Issue 3! Rock on, Elizabeth Cheng & Amy Liu Editors-in-Chief

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heard and included, rather than having to go out of their way to be included,” Dhanda said. Many teachers have already started initiatives in classrooms to further inclusivity for LGBTQ+ students. “When my students fill out their notecards at the beginning of the year with your information, there’s a field for pronouns, although it’s optional, because you don’t want to out someone if they don’t want to share their pronouns with you,” Lu said. “So in general, I try to foster an environment in my class where everybody’s different strengths and personality are celebrated.” Dhanda has also been working with student organizations like ASB and Valhalla about changing gendered terms for Homecoming royalty and dances, as well as using students’ preferred names in yearbooks instead of dead names. Dhanda hopes to expand her project and have presentations by the GSA become a regular part of staff meetings. She hopes that her work with GSA clubs at other FUHSD schools will allow members to share resources like the website that Dhanda created to show student experiences. “Ideally, the hope is for more inclusivity in all classrooms so LGBTQ+ students feel safe at school,” Salazar said. “This workshop did a great job including tips for teachers and very doable things to be accepting of all gender identities. Hearing how students are feeling from the students themselves can be powerful.”

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GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY ALYSSA WANG

Funky Monkeys robotics team gears up with a new practice field BY VALERIE SHU

“One of the big things we recognized is that having machines lans for a new robotics on the field gets very loud and practice field are in the works it’s hard to work on your robot at after a three year campaign the same time, which is one of the by Lynbrook’s Funky Monkeys reasons why we want the field at robotics team. The project relied Lynbrook, where it would be right on the passing of Measure G, a $275 next to the machine shop,” Dhadwal million school bond for repairs said. and upgrades to FUHSD facilities. The location of the facility remains Part of this money will fund the undecided between Lynbrook and construction of a robotics field to be Cupertino High School with issues shared by the district’s five teams. being considered for both sites. In self-evaluations the team Cupertino’s designated construction found their current practice setup area is larger but farther away to be one of their biggest obstacles. from their machine shop, causing With a cramped machine shop and supervision and convenience robots being stored in students’ USED WITH PERMISSION FROM THE FUNKY MONKEYS concerns. At Lynbrook, the building garages, a new facility would The Funky Monkeys and their head coach, David Giandomenico, met with Superintendent Graham Clark to discuss the field. would be placed on the blacktop provide desperately needed space. basketball courts with easier access The team also recognized the value of to offer his support for the initiative. He the 55% of votes required to pass. to their machines. being able to practice against fellow FUHSD continued meeting regularly with the team The field itself will be a standard “When it was finally approved, we were teams and host scrimmages with other and became FUHSD Superintendent in ecstatic but we recognized that there are FIRST Robotics Competition field housed in school districts. Without a real field, they July 2022 with enriching FUHSD’s robotics ze/zir a lot of other projects besides the field,” a facility similar in size to Lynbrook’s field couldn’t test certain mechanisms or program programs as one of his main goals. senior and robotics team co-president Yuvraj house. The building will include a central autonomous routines until immediately “Robotics is an important program and Dhadwal said. “This is why we’re pushing for arena, bleachers, designated storage spaces before competitions. and pit areas for the teams to work on their we want to support it the best we can,” Clark it to get started first.” “Every day, we have to roll out this said. “Hundreds of students across the five The teams are working with Clark and robots. The team hopes that having a more massive fraying carpet to practice,” senior schools are involved in it and a field would architects to draft plans and incorporate prominent and accessible facility on campus and robotics team co-president Arjun Kumar really help our teams grow.” custom components in the field design. In will introduce more students to robotics. The said. “It’s a lot of work, and a field will To lobby for support in the community, September, the Funky Monkeys showed field is expected to be fully operational by make practicing a lot more convenient and the team reached out to parents via social Bellarmine College Preparatory’s field to 2028. accurate.” “I’m very excited for the incoming classes media and mailing lists. Students also posted Clark and in October, representatives from The Funky Monkeys attended a district more than 1000 flyers on the houses of all five FUHSD schools toured the NASA Ames who will have access to the field,” junior office board meeting to campaign for the new registered voters in local neighborhoods. Research Center’s robotics field to ask Team team member Aishwarya Poolla said. “We’ve field in 2019. Afterwards, former Associate Measure G was approved on June 7 with just 1868, a girl scout troop robotics team, about been working very hard on this initiative and Superintendent Graham Clark reached out 55.71% of votes in favor, barely surpassing challenges and features of their field. it’s great finally seeing it come to fruition.”

November 07, 2022

NEWS

FUHSD alumni introduce students to careers BY CATHERINE ZHOU

of the five panelists: Gregory Moe, a Monta Vista High School graduate and senior PHOTO BY CATHERINE ZHOU business analyst at Capital One; Carl Shan, a Lynbrook graduate and data scientist at LinkedIn; Jade Niu, a Cupertino High School graduate and dietitian nutritionist; Noa Bronicki, a Homestead High School graduate and equity fellow at The Children’s Movement, an advocacy group for learning opportunities; and Tara Sreekrishnan, a Monta Vista graduate and trustee on the Santa Clara County Board of Education. Noa Bronicki is a Homestead graduate and equity AAPA is led by a group of parents dedicated fellow at The Children’s Movement. to providing a better learning environment n Oct. 19, a virtual career seminar for students by addressing concerns in K-12 education. The hosted by the PHOTO BY CATHERINE ZHOU Cupertino Library Asian American Foundation provides Parents Association, financial and creative Cupertino Library support for diverse Foundation and educational and Bay Youth featured cultural programs. a panel of FUHSD The organizations alumni. More than worked together to 100 students and advertise the event parents attended and and recruit panelists. explored fields of Gregory Moe is a Monta Vista graduate and Guided by seniors government, finance, senior business analyst at Capital One. Jason Shan and Ethan Feng, each panelist nutrition, data science and advocacy. The seminar began with an introduction answered a set of questions on why they pursued their careers, which extracurricular activities were impactful to them and the PHOTO BY CATHERINE ZHOU roles their parents played in their career choices. The panelists advised students on finding success after high school, stressing the importance of pursuing genuine interests and echoing that students should put less pressure on themselves in high school. “It was a good reminder of what really matters” Feng said. “It’s easy to only focus on things like college applications or grades, but Carl Shan is a Lynbrook graduate and data scientist as the speakers said, the things they cared at LinkedIn.

PHOTO BY CATHERINE ZHOU

Tara Sreekrishnan is a Monta Vista graduate and a Santa Clara County Board of Education trustee.

about in high school had almost no impact on their current lives.” Since all of the panelists attended FUHSD schools, they provided valuable insight into the impacts of the school environment. “Our school system can be very demanding because there’s a strong focus on academics over social activities,” Sreekrishnan said. “I’ve seen how that’s translated into my adult life, where I still have the same prioritization. My advice is to have a bit more fun, because after graduation, you’ll be wondering why you worried about a lot of these things you find yourself stressing over now.” Students left the seminar better prepared to take on their futures and parents learned how to support their children in the process.

Upcoming Viking Events No School, Veterans Day - Nov. 11 Therapy Farm - Nov. 15 ASB will host the Therapy Farm event to relieve student stress with cute animals. Fall Rally - Nov. 18 Still miss Homecoming? Look forward to the Fall Rally during tutorial in the gym! Sanskriti - Nov. 18 Appreciate classical South Asian art forms at the American-Indo Student Association’s Sanskriti showcase from 6 to 8 p.m. in the auditorium. LIMB Craft Faire - Nov. 19 Shop for handmade holiday gifts at the Craft Faire from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. to support the music and guard program. Thanksgiving Break - Nov. 24 to 25

PHOTO BY CATHERINE ZHOU

Jade Niu is a Cupertino graduate and registered dietitian nutritionist.

By Chelsea Lee Photo by Anushka Anand

Food for thought: politics with a side of pizza PHOTOS BY TANIKA ANBU young to vote, their voice is still important when it comes to politics, and Pizza and Politics gives them a place to be heard GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATIONS tudents and parents from Cupertino, Saratoga and by political speakers as well as like-minded youth and teens,” BY CHELSEA LEE AND SAMYUKTA SARMA Campbell munched on pizza and spoke with their local Saratoga Youth Commission Chair Nicole Hao said. representatives at the Pizza and Politics event at the Saratoga Mayor Tina Walia, Cupertino Mayor Darcy Paul D. Cupertino Community Hall on Oct. 21. Hosted by Campbell and Campbell Mayor Paul Resnikoff spoke with students and Saratoga’s youth commissions and the Cupertino Youth about current issues, like climate change and civic Activity Board, the event allowed students to learn more engagement, encouraging students to ask questions. about their city mayors and FUHSD board members while Each mayor stressed the importance of student cultivating a community of politically-invested teenagers. engagement in local government since The event was split into three sessions: the mayoral round young people will be the leaders and F. table, an FUHSD board members forum and a high school changemakers of the next generation. student debate, allowing students to engage with local “It was really interesting to figures and ask their questions on a variety of levels. meet three mayors, let alone one,” Advertised as “a political event for teens, by teens,” Pizza freshman Ishika Chandra said. “I and Politics was intentionally held before the November learned about their stances on midterm elections to emphasize to youth the importance of issues like climate change and community and political engagement and prepare them to what it takes to be part of a E. be educated voters. Voters get to help choose their city and Youth Commission.” school representatives, which is one of the opportunities Afterward, four FUHSD highly encouraged at Pizza and Politics, since candidates board member candidates, appeared at the event to pitch themselves to city youth and Rosa Kim, Naomi NakanoD. Cupertino Mayor Darcy Paul talks with students about youth make them feel involved in important issues. The midterm Matsumoto, Andrew Aaron engagement in politics. E. Current FUHSD Board of Trustees Vice President Rosa Kim elections provide residents with an opportunity to help Calif. Arness and Stanley Kou, spoke answers questions regarding equity and diversity in schools. F. Campbell Mayor Paul Resnikoff make decisions on policies for education, climate change, with students in an open discussion. discusses the city’s policies for climate change. abortion, housing and other proposed amendments to the Students asked the board members state constitution. won the debate after a brief deliberation from the judges general questions that allowed all guests to give their “Although the input. They discussed a variety of topics including their from the Campbell and Saratoga teen commissions. audience that “Students are the reason we are here,” said current FUHSD views on equity and excellence, their goals around social and Pizza and emotional wellness and more light-heartedly, their favorite Board of Trustees Vice President Rosa Kim. “Our students Politics bring unique insights and ideas into how we can improve our boba orders. caters to “It is intimidating to talk about politics with political schools, which is why students’ perspectives are important is too figures,” freshman Joyce Cheung said. “But it was nice to when making decisions.” To entice students to participate in discussions, youth understand that they are just normal people. Seeing them make pop culture references, for example, organizers presented attendees with a large selection of made me realize that they are actual people pizzas. Between bites of cheese and bell-pepper-topped pizza, A. students conversed with each other during the intermissions. trying to help our community.” Though politics is typically thought of as an adult topic, B. The event concluded with four Monta Vista High School students the organizers of Pizza and Politics aim to debunk this holding a public forum debate on misconception and foster an environment where students can gasoline-powered vehicles in meet people from neighboring cities and find a community in Calif. Students from both the which they can express themselves. “As a high school student, you are given the best affirmative and negative sides composed well-detailed opportunities to evolve and contribute to society to become arguments and extracted the best citizen in this country,” FUHSD board election facts from each other’s candidate Stanley Kou said. “It is important to start early.” The entire event was recorded and posted on the City cases through the cross-fire C. rounds. Proponents argued of Cupertino’s YouTube channel to simulate what it is like that Calif. should pursue the for a news channel to cover political events. The Youth A. Monta Vista student Alex Zhang explains his affirmative stance during the debate. B. Students 2035 Advanced Clean Cars Commissions will join forces again in 2024 to discuss more Alan Tai and Saanvi Goyal from the negative side prepare to ask their cross-fire questions. C. II rule, but the negative side political topics and dig into their next pie.

BY TANIKA ANBU

Student organizers chat about the event during the intermission.

NEWS

November 07, 2022

Students compete in Lynbrook’s first ProCo

BY LARRY WANG

Story continued from front page.

ach of the problems involved automating a task that required clever uses of algorithms and data structures. For example, one problem asked competitors to optimize the shortest distance between two axolotls on a number line, and another problem asked competitors to print the last sentence of a cow’s book. At the end, prizes were awarded to the three teams who correctly solved the most problems. The first-place winners won speakers, second place won laptop bags and third place won earbuds. “My team came in with lots of prior competitive programming background,” first-place winner Xue said. “Even so, there was a scary moment when I thought I had the incorrect algorithm for a problem but my teammate, Eric, debugged it and explained how it was actually correct. It felt very, very nice knowing that we had solved every single problem.” Computer Science Club handled the logistics of the competition, including writing a code of conduct and advertising on the morning announcements. The officers also created the problems and test cases that were used to score participants, helped by members senior Steven Pan and junior David Lee. “As problemwriters, we would

first come up with a list of topics we would test on, such as searching algorithms and optimization techniques,” Computer Science Club president and senior Ryan Chen said. “We would then pick unique topics and brainstorm problems with storylines, before cutting down to our 10 selected problems and writing solutions for them. It was hard work done in an accelerated timeline, but everyone still pulled through.” Topics tested varied in difficulty and included binary search, dynamic programming and Dyjkstra’s algorithm, which are algorithms that involve pruning redundant operations while efficiently sifting through data points and identifying shortest paths. The problems required creative uses of these algorithms by modifying and extending them to fit a task’s need. While Computer Science Club created the problems, Web Development Club made the ProCo website to serve as the competition’s submission platform. Participants were allowed to use their coding language of

choice and submitted their solutions through programming experience by including the website. approachable problems that test clever “Computer Science Club needed a thinking. The contest had a large showing, website to display evident by the 300 problems and receive problem submissions on answer submissions, the website. Most teams but preexisting submitted solutions to In time, we’re hoping competition-hosting multiple problems, and websites were privately the first-place team we get more and more run by universities and correctly solved all 12 students introduced to bigger companies,” problems. competitive programming said junior Anish “I hadn’t done Lakkapragada, much competitive Bradley Fulk, Computer Computer Science Club programming before, Secretary and Web so during the contest, Science Club Adviser Development Club Vice I realized there were President. “We wanted to concepts that I didn’t teach Web Development quite know,” sophomore members how to create production-ready Karen Gao said. “After the contest, I felt products using databases like PostgreSQL, inspired to look them up, so I learned more APIs, and reactive frameworks while helping from ProCo than I would’ve thought.” another club in the process.” By making the competition accessible ProCo was designed to be friendly for the beginner competitive coding for competitors with little competitive students, Computer Science Club and Web Development Club hoped to offer a taste of what programming competitions are like and encourage newcomers to get involved in competitive programming. “In my five years as the Computer Science Club’s advisor, this is the first time the club has executed an idea of this magnitude this early in the year,” said Bradley Fulk, Computer Science teacher and Computer Science Club advisor. “There might be improvements to be made as we market future ProCos to the right audience, but in time we’re hoping we get more and more students introduced to competitive programming.”

Sophomores Eric Hsu, Jiahe Lu, and Brian Xue take the first-place blue tooth speakers prize home at the first Lynbrook ProCo.

PHOTO BY LARRY WANG

OPINION

the Epic

The exploitative nature of biopics

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY MYLES KIM

BY SURYA SARAF

iopics present dramatized displays of influential figures, meant to inform viewers about those who have had a significant impact on society. But how well-intentioned are these “contemporary lessons?” The answer lies in the profitminded media. “Dahmer”, the recent biopic covering Jeffrey Dahmer, a notorious serial killer and cannibal who brutally murdered his victims, has exploded in popularity with approximately 300 million watches on Netflix across 60 million households. Illustrating Dahmer’s tactical means of exploiting his victims, the biopic delves into specific and personal details of his life. The victims are represented as mere props to the story — Dahmer is the star. Such is the nature of many biopics: crude and overlydramatic representations of famous figures, glorifying their lives and capitalizing on their reinvented images to turn a profit. Many of Dahmer’s surviving victims have complained about the exploitative nature of “Dahmer” and its inaccurate depictions, which were often done without consent. The show also reminded many victims of an uncomfortable past they do not want to relive. It portrays Dahmer as an intellectual protagonist that viewers can sympathize with. “These people lost their lives, and there’s no way to compensate them, but

Netflix should at least acknowledge their significance instead of creating these onesided mistreatments of the victims’ stories,” drama teacher Larry Wenner said. Netflix is aware of this backlash and understands that the biopics they air will offend some people. But they continue to value profits over preserving the integrity of those portrayed, prioritizing shows that get views and shamelessly glossing over any controversy that comes with them. “I understand that a lot of these biopics are made to be interesting, but morally, directors and filmmakers have a responsibility to prioritize respect for those involved in the crime first,” junior Kaawon Kim said. Similar patterns are seen in “Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile”: serial killer Ted Bundy’s biopic, representing his murders, personal life, and even sex scenes with his potential love interest, all of which are excessive and depict Bundy’s actions as pitiful and understandable. Viewers have started to sympathize with Dahmer and Bundy, with users on social media platforms such as Tiktok claiming they feel sorry for Dahmer; even pining for him. Additionally, Netflix often casts popular, conventionally attractive actors and actresses to play the stars of biopics, contorting viewers’ perceptions of the serial killer. In the case of “Dahmer,” Netflix casted Evan Peters, a hotshot actor from movies such as “Deadpool 2” and “X-men: Apocalypse,” which has caused many to associate Dahmer

with the likable Peters. “If you get a famous actor to play someone evil, the audience already has a preconceived idea of liking that person,” Wenner said. “So, the media can’t accurately portray this nefarious character since the casting taints the audience’s view of what historically happened.” Even biopics about those who positively impacted society can be misleading. For instance, “Blonde,” the biopic about Marilyn Monroe released on Aug. 20th, overly sexualizes Monroe without focusing on her many achievements in acting. It sparked controversy among models and actresses such as Emily Ratajowski, who believes the show fetishizes female pain. Many viewers also felt extremely uncomfortable watching the biopic because it included graphic scenes of abortion and sexual assault. While actress Ana De Armas portrayed Monroe very well, the plot of the movie itself glosses over Monroe’s presence in Hollywood. Of course, biopics are enticing to streaming giants and media corporations, attracting a substantial number of annual viewers. Netflix may argue that they are merely following a protocol that turns a profit. However, Netflix has billions of dollars in revenue from countless other TV shows. Consumers should also stop valuing misleading entertainment and discourage media organizations from continuing to produce similar content. Despite this, it is still possible to make an insightful biopic that is worth watching, if approached with respect and research. “The Imitation Game,” is a biopic about Alan Turing, the man who cracked the German Enigma during World War II, and accurately illustrates Turing’s social awkwardness and homosexuality while also representing his brilliant mind. In the case of serial killers and murderers, however, biopics are constantly at risk giving off the wrong message. Netflix and other media organizations should stick to documentaries that use consent of victims and safe forms of representation that don’t delude viewers about someone the media does not personally know, or insensitively revoke trauma in viewers. “It would be better to get actual interviews with the serial killers or figures in a documentary to actually see their personalities, instead of them being played by someone else, so their depiction can be more accurate,” Kim said.

Exploring religious views on campus BY ANUSHKA ANAND

any American teenagers rarely observe religious behavior in their schools, and a majority say they rarely or never discuss religion with friends. The religious beliefs of many students are still maintained, through reading religious scriptures on a weekly basis. With over 4,000 recognized religions in the Bay Area, here are some of Lynbrook students’ religious views.

Christianity, a major religion stemming from the life, teachings and death of Jesus of Nazareth — the Christ — has become the largest religion in the world. It is believed that Jesus was crucified to offer the forgiveness of humanity’s sins and was resurrected three days after his death before ascending to heaven, focusing the religion on salvation and redemption. “I make mistakes, I have my own faults,” senior and Agape president Yechan Lee said. “Every time I do something that’s not necessarily great, it’s the understanding that I’m not perfect, but Jesus will take c a r e of my sins.”

Islam, the second largest monotheistic religion in the world, has 1.8 billion followers worldwide. Followers of Islam aim to live a life in complete submission to Allah. They believe that nothing can happen without Allah’s permission, but humans still have free will. “Every Muslim believes they are the servants of God,” senior and Muslim Student Association president Abdulrahman Naveed said. “We make sure every action we do aligns with His commandments. So in the future, if I want to do something, I have to make sure that it is something that will please God.”

Judaism, a monotheistic religion developed among ancient Hebrews, is a belief in one transcendent God who revealed himself to Abraham, Moses and the Hebrew prophets. Jews believe in the Torah, laws given to the Israelites at Sinai — the principal site of divine revelation. “I follow Judaism partly because I can show my devotion to God in my own modern interpretation,” junior Peter Aguirre said. “That’s why I really value my faith. Even the Bible allows for flexibility, maintaining Jewish core principals, while also adjusting for changes in today’s society.”

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY INAAYA YOUSUF

BY ELIZABETH CHENG//IN MY OPINION

My art and me

n the middle of the summer before my senior year, I laid in bed, the same moving frames playing in my mind. I saw myself running, panting, falling. Flat on the ground, expressionless. The next day, I filmed the video that I had envisioned, finishing my homework for ‘Idea Camp’: a casual term for a two-week segment of an art camp focused on creativity. After sessions of rigorous review with my art teacher, Fang Lao Shi, known to his students as FLS and famous in our Chinese community for his college-level teaching, that video will go into my art portfolio, ready to be analyzed by admissions officers. I spend my weekend afternoons and nights working in the art studio, trying conceptualizing ideas while making up for years of missing technical practice. I once dreaded sitting for hours, copying an image with precise detail. What was the point of art, I wondered, when I could simply take a photo? The summer after my freshman year, I attended my first summer camp with FLS. The hours on Zoom were difficult — three hours of homework on top of six hours of class. But I realized that art is not merely about rendering, realism or making something look pretty. Its purpose was to convey an emotion or complex idea through imagery. While many of my early pieces were unsuccessful, they were vital stepping stones to practice my ideation process — how to capture an abstract concept and revitalize it through art. FLS’s teaching process is rooted in developing students for the brutal process of curating an art portfolio for college admissions. I knew that FLS was a great art teacher, but I couldn’t separate his ideology regarding college admissions from valuable feedback. This cutthroat environment led me to quit FLS’s studio the summer that I had started. Yet afterward, I struggled to stay dedicated to the art practice about which I had suddenly grown so passionate. Browsing previous students’ portfolios that led them to attend prestigious institutions, I knew I had the potential to do the same. And I would regret it if I didn’t try. Although FLS’s mindset hasn’t changed, I’ve realized that our differences are rooted in growing up in different generations. But a new internal conflict arose. Am I putting 20 hours a week into this process for my personal growth or the prestige that comes with being accepted into a top-tier institution? I’m planning my time around colleges’ expectations for a portfolio. But even if all of my work contributed absolutely nothing to my application, I would be stepping away from this process having found an outlet through which I can both challenge myself and find comfort in my expression. So, why not just take a photo? For me, art is not about a finished product. It’s a process of ideation, of expressing a specific feeling at a certain point in time. No matter the external factors — teachers with whom I may not always agree with, new innovations that threaten humanmade art and pending college decision results — I will always treasure that process.

November 07, 2022

OPINION

Creating a more supportive Homecoming

rom skits and dances to backdrops and planter decorations, class officers, Homecoming leaders and participants spend months preparing for Lynbrook’s most extravagant event of the year. However, lack of involvement, communication and support across classes causes stress and a tendency to overwork among leads and avid participants. To foster a more supportive environment, the student body should consider participating more in various Homecoming activities, with more outward leadership recognition from ASB. The lack of support for Homecoming participants mostly comes from the insufficient number of students willing to get involved, especially in making backdrops and planter decorations. Each planter decoration requires many hours to construct and paint. While the number of participants is adequate during early Homecoming preparations during summer break, it dwindles after the school year starts, making it difficult to continue balancing Homecoming preparations with schoolwork and extracurricular activities. Some student leaders have reported getting as few as four hours of sleep per night in the weeks leading up to Homecoming, working extra hours attempting to complete backdrops and decorations. “As it got closer and closer to Homecoming and we were all sleep deprived, there were definitely moments of panic, like ‘Oh my god, are we going to be able to get this stuff done?’” said Emma Tu, senior class president and decorations leader. “I think we were exasperated by the fluctuating emotions that come with being sleep deprived.” Leaders and active participants should

of appreciation. To be able to complete remedy this, ASB backdrops and should consider decorations without working with having to resort to class officers to working significantly post videos after overtime and paying Homecoming out of pocket for food incentives. However, it is also important for ASB that specifically include behind-the-scenes to reduce the scale and size of backdrops looks at the participants’ work, montages and decorations to decrease the amount of the completed planter decorations and of time that is required to complete them. interviews with dedicated participants. The number of required planter boxes to They should also give shout-outs to the decorate can be reduced from the current backdrop and planter decoration teams at two to one, and the height of backdrops can the concluding pep rally. Another key aspect for ASB to address be standardized to just 11.5 feet, so students is a lack of support do not unnecessarily for freshmen lacking paint the section of prior experience with the backdrop that Homecoming. Because drags on the ground. ASB only introduces Furthermore, the width As freshmen, there are a Homecoming to lot of issues that we did of backdrops can also not expect or know how to freshmen after summer be decreased from 90 to address, and that delays the break starts, they 80 feet. general process. have reduced time “Backdrops are to decide leadership more hyped up Amy Tang, roles, meaning they compared to planter freshman class president can’t begin preparation decorations, and not a and backdrop leader until July or August, lot of people care about whereas other classes planters,” said Zack typically begin near Zhou, a sophomore the beginning of planter decorations leader. “Also, if you make the planters poorly, summer break. The reduced time allotted for people will critique you even though they did decorations further complicates the event for students already learning how to organize not help construct them.” While the leads and participants of and lead for the first time. “As freshmen, there are a lot of issues that dances and skits are able to show off their contributions on stage, those involved in we did not expect or know how to address, making backdrops and planter decorations and that delays the general process,” said do not have their creations attributed to Amy Tang, freshman class president and them, thus not receiving the same amount backdrop leader.

Staff Editorial The Voice of the Epic

To resolve this, ASB should organize leadership voting for the incoming class during second semester of eighth grade instead of during summer break. This allows them to decide Homecoming leadership positions without having to wait for class officer decisions. ASB can also provide more support for freshmen by making the information in the Homecoming Handbook —currently more than 30 pages long — easier to digest through an informative video outlining the must-know details. Many leaders, especially freshmen, may choose not to read the handbook due to its length, missing out on important rules. The handbook and its supplementary video should also be shared directly with all students so that leaders are relieved of having to repeatedly explain the rules. Making the handbook’s information simpler to comprehend decreases confusion, save time and reduce student stress. “A little more support from ASB would have been nice,” Tang said. “It would have been better to be guided into the process of Homecoming since people were not aware of what to expect for a lot of aspects.” Homecoming is one of the most fulfilling experiences for students. However, it’s simply not possible for the same quality to be retained in future years without continued, greater involvement of the whole student body. Through these changes, there will be a more supportive environment for Homecoming at Lynbrook that allows students to continue these traditions for many years to come. the Epic staff voted 30-2 in favor of this stance with 8 abstaining.

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY CALVIN ZHOU AND QIANZI LOO

Academic pursuit in a post pandemic classroom BY SARAH ZHANG

engage in the classroom. Lynbrook has always prided itself n response to the COVID-19 pandemic, on rigorous learning standards, which some teachers supported distracted its students are expected to uphold. Yet students with according to recent accommodations CAASPP data, both including lighter math and language course loads, arts scores of extensions for late n o n - e c o n o m i c a l ly work and adjusted challenged FUHSD expectations overall. students declined Although it has from 2020-22. been two years “The Bay Area since students grindset is motivating have returned to but also negative,” in-person learning, Lynbrook alumni many expect the and MIT freshman same treatment. Albert Tam said. “My These lingering peers were doing so study habits are much with their lives, concerning, as which encouraged they can cripple me to participate in students’ ability to more activities, and effectively adapt to I’m happy with what future challenges. I did. That being While teachers can GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY SARAH ZHANG said, the culture can aid students by definitely get toxic.” striking a balance During the between engagement and rigor, students 2020-21 school year, teachers taught also must shift their mindsets to genuinely on Zoom, often staring at black boxes

with names for hours, with little student contribution. On the other side of the screen, students often engaged in non-school related activities. With digital turn-in conversions, students increasingly skirted academic honesty policies. Sharing academic materials over the Internet became more prevalent, with sites such as Chegg reporting 6.6 million subscribers in 2020, a 67% increase from the previous year. This means students were relying on possibly misleading or outdated information, foregoing the learning process. Leniency in grading is another factor that incentivized students to slack off. In July 2021, the State of California passed legislation allowing students to request “Pass” or “No Pass” grades in their classes in lieu of the traditional letter grades. A “Pass,” which replaced everything above an F, eradicated many students’ drive to work for a higher letter grade. This lower desire for achievement thus contributed to a vicious cycle of nonparticipation and dropping grades, affecting those who were unprepared for the return to structured academics. It is thus crucial that students shake off their pandemic sluggishness. “It is a problem if you’re constantly limiting yourself to what’s most convenient,”

senior Sophia Das said. “If you’re repeatedly choosing the easy way out, you’re going to stunt your growth and responsiveness to change.” Students should not continue to expect the same treatment from their teachers, especially as many are missing a large chunk of what was previously thought to be basic knowledge during remote learning. According to the 2022 NAEP, fourth and eighth grade reading scores dropped to a level last seen in 1992 and math scores plummeted from pre-COVID levels. “I have to spend more time on founding documents than I normally would have, because they weren’t necessarily delved into due to remote learning,” AP U.S. History and World History teacher Kyle Howden said. “It takes up more time, whereas traditionally I wouldn’t necessarily have to go into as much depth.” As teachers make a conscious effort to fill in these learning gaps to build a foundation for future learning, students should likewise strive to develop proficiency in what they are taught. Though it is unreasonable to expect students to be completely unfazed after a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic, students should be open to learning, rather than slipping back into pandemic torpor.

November 07, 2022

OPINION

The importance of land acknowledgement for Lynbrook BY DAEUN CHUNG

Native tribal territories, pre-contact

any Bay Area residents are ignorant about what Indigenous tribes lived on their lands before them and difficulties they have faced until now. One such tribe Lynbrook should acknowledge is the Ohlone tribe and their past legacy and struggles in the Bay Area, by adding a land acknowledgment section on its website and introducing cultures and traditions of the Ohlone tribe in morning announcements and newsletters. Lynbrook should acknowledge the Ohlone because the community has benefitted from initially Ohlone-occupied land since its establishment. Indigenous land was given away to states at low prices to fund the building of universities and educational institutions through the Morrill Act of 1862, and many Natives were forced to leave their

Scan to view an interactive map

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY TANIKA ANBU

homelands in order to make room. “From Native Americans’ perspectives, Westward Expansion was a time of persecution,” history teacher Mike Williams said. “It was a planned brutal, violent and often deadly removal from their traditional lands and forced placement in reservations. Additionally, free expression of their culture, religion and language was denied.” To this day, economic effects of European colonization and American Westward expansion can still be seen in tribes’ struggles with lack of health care, displacement, housing, employment, and intergenerational poverty. As the disparities and disadvantages caused by the displacement of the Ohlone tribe continue today, it is immoral to use land without acknowledging who occupied it before. Consequently, Lynbrook has a moral obligation to recognize that San Jose was traditional territory of the Ohlone tribe, and this can begin by Lynbrook issuing land acknowledgement on its website. This would show Lynbrook’s gratitude toward the Ohlone and would be a powerful first step to address past wrongdoings. “Land acknowledgement is a thoughtful acknowledgement of people that have been slighted throughout history,” English teacher Terri Fill said. Additionally, informing students, parents or visitors of the Lynbrook homepage about the Ohlone would bring attention to what actions can be taken to address social

inequalities the tribe has endured, such as housing and healthcare. This could help Lynbrook form a solid foundation for its support toward the indigenous community. Lynbrook can go further and take lead in supporting the Native American community by introducing Native American history and culture during advisories or morning announcements. Sept. 23 is Native American Day, and November is National American Heritage Month. Providing an opportunity to explore and celebrate the tradition of the Ohlone tribe on those dates will help non-indigenous students to become familiar with Native American culture. With this knowledge, students can better understand the difficulties the Ohlone have faced and support initiatives to recognize them. “Lynbrook students should acknowledge and be educated about Native Americans’ traditions and their contributions to the Bay Area that we can still see today,” Spanish teacher Michael Esquievel said. In its mission statement, FUHSD claims to be committed to equity and excellence. Thus, FUHSD’s mission statement suggests the importance and necessity of supporting Native American and Ohlone tribe communities. Starting off with land acknowledgement, FUHSD and Lynbrook can take important steps toward boosting students’ awareness of and respect for the Ohlone tribe and their traditional territories.

Partisan politics’ latest casualty: School boards BY MYLES KIM AND APURVA KRISHNAMURTHY

chool boards are meant to be nonpartisan and voice the community’s opinions to improve their schools. Yet in practice, they’ve transformed into ideological battlegrounds. From banning Critical Race Theory to restricting books that contain “offensive language,” both Democrats and Republicans have shown negligence by weaponizing public education. Thus, school board members should pledge non-partisan stances on their duties. Community members should strive to hold members accountable to minimize the unrelenting advance that many policy makers have taken towards our public education system. Partisan politics have been leaking into public education for decades, with debate topics ranging from school shootings to private and charter schools. These have increasingly caught the public eye during the transition back to in-person learning. Tensions boiled in communities as some failed to agree on public safety measures during the COVID-19 pandemic. Republicans saw some measures as an affront to their personal freedoms, using the slogans “My Body My Choice” as a satirical spin on the left-leaning slogan pertaining to abortion. Democrats viewed these attacks as inflammatory, stressing the importance of

safety. “I think what galvanized elections in the last five years is fear of change or that something doesn’t match a cultural value,” social studies teacher Jeffrey Bale said. As discourse about pandemic-era health and safety policies started to subside early last year, Critical Race Theory took center stage. Bans on books and curriculum that address topics pertaining to marginalized groups have since expanded, especially in predominantly conservative areas. These bans politicize what should be an objective education, while unnecessarily sugarcoating sensitive topics, ranging from slavery and the Civil War in American history to contemporary issues surrounding racism, class and inclusion. Proponents of parent oversight claim that students are being indoctrinated in school solely by educating them on topics unpalatable only to conservative minds. “School boards have become such ideological battlegrounds because people are concerned about their children’s education,” said Roy Rocklin, FUHSD board of trustees member. “By focusing on children’s education, you can get parents’ attention. It’s a political wedge issue.” Although federal or state policy affecting public education is inevitable, the changes that they bring are often less tangible in

comparison to local initiatives, including district-level governments. As such, school boards have a significant effect on students’ education. With such critical decisions being made, the importance of communication between board members and citizens becomes even greater. Most school board meetings have time restrictions, around 2-3 minutes, for public comments. They also require community members to notify the board of what and when they plan to discuss in advance, disrupting the flow of productive dialogue and limiting community input. Moreover, most school boards don’t sufficiently advertise their policies or provide meeting minutes, often leaving voters in the dark. To combat the possibility of an uninformed or unsatisfied electorate, school boards can loosen these regulations or implement opendoor meetings. Such meetings allow citizens to address their concerns and remain informed on specific matters by conversing with board members one-on-one, fostering a community of educated voters. This will also minimize polarization by encouraging voters to vote based on policy rather than defaulting to party affiliation. School boards can only do so much to be transparent and communicative as possible. Community members must also take

initiative to voice their concerns and vote for candidates that they believe will actually prioritize their students’ best interests. “The problem is people failing to understand that their votes are important and that they have a civic responsibility to vote,” Bale said. In the liberal stronghold of California, where left leaning ideas and officials dominate politics, Republicans may feel underrepresented or disenfranchised during school board elections. Due to this disparity, candidates frequently run nonpartisan campaigns to prevent voter apathy and encourage majority and minority opinions. However, this phenomenon begs the question of what it means to be truly nonpartisan. “There are a lot of people that are either one party or the other, and there is no middle ground,” FUHSD student board representative Rochelle Awuah said. “It’s become very extreme overtime.” School boards stimulating polarized environments and harboring partisan policies have put the quality of students’ education at risk. Moving forward, proper communication and responsible voting will be instrumental in transitioning away from political polarization. Prioritizing education over partisan pursuits will in turn, help to put student interest back at the top of school boards’ list. GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY APURVA KRISHNAMURTHY AND INAAYA YOUSUF

FEATURES

the Epic

Exploring cultural backgrounds through Indian classical dance BY SOPHIE AU

fascinating,” American-Indo Student Association officer and sophomore Athreya he rhythmic beat of the tabla, Iyer said. Beginners start with the basics and rings of the sitar and melody of a harmonium marks the start of a learn individual steps called adavus for varnam. The story of Hindu gods unfolds Bharatanatyam, hand gestures, called hastas with intricate footwork and distinct and motions representing people, gods and hand gestures symbolizing concepts other significant objects. As dancers’ styles and characters. For the Indian classical mature and perfect steps, more emphasis is dancers of Lynbrook, each performance placed on expression and style. “It’s often just about how you’re is a culmination of intense practice and performing a piece - whether it be adding discipline. Bringing cultural traditions from more grace or power,” Bharatanatyam India to America, classical dance dancer and senior Netra Ramanatham said. teachers communicate ancient stories “The dance style itself is still fluid.” M u s i c a l and keep traditional accompaniments often forms of art alive include live orchestra, by disseminating composed of violin, them to AmericanIndian percussion and born children. In It’s often just about how you’re traditional instruments performing a piece - whether addition to the such as the sitar and it be adding more grace or more dominant power. The dance style itself tabla. South Indian Tamil and Telugu ICDs dance to Carnatic dance styles such is fluid. music, while North as Bharatanatyam Indian classical dance and Kuchipudi, Netra Ramanatham, is to the Northern other dancers also Senior style of music, called specialize in styles Hindustani.India hosts like Odissi and a diverse array of Kathak, respectively languages that vary originating from North India and the state of Odisha. region to region, and as such, the music is Each style of dance has nuances specific sung in different languages. However, the to regions of India, with students often structure of the dance style is meant to registering for classes in the style derived complement singing that should narrate the story, which often sets students who from their home town or state. “Different high schools in the area are unable to understand the lyrics at a have a mix of students who study disadvantage. “I’m the one of the only dancers at different styles, which is what t h e studio who doesn’t makes classical speak the Telugu art forms language,” Kuchipudi s o dancer and senior S a n i k a

Mithbaokar said. “It’s interesting to learn the art form from an outsider’s perspective.” A milestone performance for Indian classical dancers is their graduation concert — referred to as the Arangetram for Bharatanatyam and Rangepravesam for Kuchipudi. “Arangetram literally means to ascend the stage,” Ramanatham said. “You make your solo debut as a dancer, though some choose to continue to learn more after.” These performances feature various traditional routines in a two to three hour long solo concert. Routines range from five to seven minute bursts of energy to 20-30 minute long routines with multiple breaks. The central piece, called the varnam, multiple sections and contrasting characters. Still, with years of hard work devoted to Indian classical dance, by the time dancers step onstage to debut themselves as official dancers, they are confident to present their pinnacle performance. Reaching the landmark Arangetram and Rangapravesam presentations, dancers’ dedication to their art form transforms them to become not only more skilled dancers, but more hardworking students. For many dancers, Indian classical dance is also a way to connect back to their identity and learn more about their cultural background. “My appreciation for Indian classical dance has definitely increased,” Mithbaokar said. “Watching pieces over seven minutes long seems rather tedious, but once you experience firsthand the hard work and discipline required to perform, it’s very impressive and enjoyable to watch.”

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY VALERIE SHU

Lynbrook students take strides in stylish footwear BY SAM SARMA

mong the pitter-patter of footsteps on campus each morning, students hear the thumps of a high heel, the squeaks of a new pair of sneakers and the soft thuds of a furry slipper. Whether it be standing in the lunch line, running to class or corralling the parking lot after school, Lynbrook students stand out in a crowd wearing their shoes of choice. The styles, prices and number of shoes in one’s collection are some of the contributing qualities of having “shoe game,” or great style in footwear. Lynbrook has its fair share of students with impressive shoe game, with some even painting or decorating their shoes to reflect their personality. As with all fashion, footwear trends have walked on and off campus, but many students use their shoes for self-expression and individuality. “Because of fast fashion, a lot of people have really similar clothes but shoes are always super different,” junior Rishma Khandelwal said. “You can tell people’s style apart from shoes.” Khandelwal purchased her dream shoes, Nike Air Jordan 1s in the colorway Bloodline,

after raising the money herself through tutoring jobs. She hopes to buy her next pair of shoes after she earns more. Some shoes are worn by students who resonate with a specific aesthetic or group. One example of this is Demonia boots, long platformed boots often embellished with fastens or fur, associated with alternative fashion and historically symbolic of goth fashion. Sophomore Jasmine Aumiller’s Demonia boots take the individuality aspect to the next level, covered in pink fur and googly eyes. “Wearing shoes should be about how an individual wants to express themselves,” Aumiller said. “Personally, I like things that have bold colors or incorporate smaller details.” Junior Nimalan Elanchelvan has collected four pairs of collectible Nike sneakers and used to trade them for a profit. “I got really into shoe trading when I was in seventh grade,” Elanchelvan said. “I started buying shoes from non-retail sellers and I would trade them for a higher price while keeping the shoes at a discount price. There’s a big market for that out there.” Formerly interested in sneakers, senior

Soohyuk Yoon has developed an appreciation for leather dress shoes and has even learned to shine them himself. “Not only do you look stylish, but the great benefit is that you don’t need to truly care about what you buy — if you buy just one good pair, you always look good in them,” Yoon said. “The customization aspect of caring for your shoes intrigued me because it makes you feel like you’re really going on a journey with this shoe.” Expressing both individuality and flaunting a good eye for fashion, Lynbrook students strut the Quad wearing a myriad of interesting shoes, oscillating with trend waves. In any case, Lynbrook students certainly make a statement with their fabulous footwear.

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION AND PHOTOS BY ASHLEY HUANG

A. Rishma Khandelwal C. Soohyuk Yoon D. Jasmine Aumiller B., E., F. Nimalan Elanchelvan

November 07, 2022

FEATURES

BY SRUTHI MEDEPALLI

ustling booths of locally harvested produce, wafting floral scents and lucrative offers of just-baked bread and crepes, farmers markets are a vital source of delight and ethicallysourced options for many Santa Clara residents. The county has fostered over 30 locations, usually open on at least one weekend morning and each consisting of various specialties from vendors across the Bay Area. California’s vibrant agricultural industry and fertile soil has long been a source of fresh food nationwide, being a key contributor to crops such as milk, nuts and grapes. Yet, farmer’s markets work on a smaller scale, providing the same produce from less popular farms to local consumers. They’ve become vital for small businesses seeking a large local customer base and residents eager for organic produce in an increasingly unsustainable world. “It's great when people come out to farmers markets because you support your local farmers, and you get to help your people out instead of the big

corporations,” said Liz Dawson, an employee at Winter’s Fruit Tree, which offers regional fruits and nut products. In an economic sense, these markets provide an easy source of income for small businesses, forgoing expensive shipping and packaging costs. Farmers often attend up to 50 markets a week, transporting goods on trucks, and stopping at various locations. Since farmer’s markets are traditionally only open one or two days a week, the variability in the days they are open makes it much easier for businesses to plan an efficient weekly route. Entering the Campbell Farmers Market, hosted in downtown Campbell on Sundays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., one finds themselves ensconced in live music, constantly buzzing crowds and an array of vendors offering samples for products ranging from jewelry and homemade beeswax soaps to fresh seasonal fruit and pumpkin beignets. The Campbell market is one of the most abundant of the Santa Clara locations, and it attracts small businesses from all over the state. “It's just really fun when you meet tourists from different areas, and they're really surprised by how many fruit and food options we have as opposed to other, more limited markets.” Dawson said. A delightful twist on the more traditional markets, Campbell Farmers Market spans the entirety of the downtown area and includes

It's great when people come out to farmers markets because you support your local farmers, and you get to help your people out instead of the big corporations.

Liz Dawson, Winter’s Fruit Tree Business

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY ASHLEY HUANG AND DAEUN CHUNG

products besides just fruits and vegetables. Whether it be potstickers and scallion pancakes, the earthy notes of Oaxacan cuisine or a comforting baked potato and corn, there’s something for everybody. Variety grows as one walks down the road, with a small nook hosting booths that sell jewelry, hats, bags and natural medicines — all handmade and well-loved. Specialties include Beckmann’s Bakery, a family bakery hosted out of Santa Cruz, boasting autumn pies, such as boysenberry and pecan, along with their classic granola and banana bread. More than anything, a sense of community flourishes in the environment, garnering trust in shoppers and providing reassurance for vendors. “I really like getting to know people week after week,” said Melissa McGranahan,

PHOTO BY SRUTHI MEDEPALLI

Getting a taste of local produce through farmers markets

a baker at Beckmann's Bakery. “The regulars come and always buy the same thing, and we talk about vacations they've been on and what their kids are doing — it's been a really fun way to connect with people.” The assortment of farmers markets in Santa Clara County also often use local school parking lots or playgrounds to set up shop, in contrast to the one-street design of the Campbell market. However, the warmth of supporting local businesses remains constant from location to location, and farmers still show the same appreciation for customers.

FEATURES

November 07, 2022

Sophie Jaquish and Derek Li sing through highs and lows BY SUSANNA TANG

isengaged from outside commotions and engrossed in the melodies of their instrumental accompaniment, juniors Sophie Jaquish and Derek Li find serenity in singing for their choir of eight and six years, respectively: Colorful Universe Children’s Singing Troupe. Jaquish and Li began their journeys with singing on converse paths.

aving already paid for voice lessons that her younger sister did not meet the age requirement to attend, eightyear-old Jaquish’s parents persuaded her to take her sister’s place in the choir at Colorful Universe. “I wouldn’t say I have a naturally gifted voice,” Jaquish said. “After I discovered that I loved singing, I started wanting to train harder and noticed that I was rapidly improving.” Jaquish finds her greatest motivation to be from her private vocal coach of two years, Eugene Brancoveanu. He always encourages Jaquish to step out of her comfort zone. “He really believes in his students and pushes us to what we think our limits are,” Jaquish said. “Then he pushes us to find out that that’s not actually our limit.” Jaquish’s passion for singing largely stems from her emotional connection to songs. “When I listen to songs, I get deep into them — sometimes they make me cry,” Jaquish said. “I love that feeling, and I want to be able to do that for other people too.” Jaquish recalls her Carnegie Hall

performance in April 2022 as her greatest achievement, having won second place in American Protégé International Vocal Competition 2022’s musical theater category. Whether it be battling insecurities or stage fright, pursuing singing requires surpassing numerous mental blocks, rough experiences which have nurtured Jaquish’s strong mentality. “Every singer makes mistakes while performing,” Jaquish said. “And of course you panic, but you just have to keep going. Learning to be comfortable doing this has helped me deal with many other similar situations in life.”

i embarked on his singing journey from a young age with passion instilled in him. Ever since he could talk, Li loved to sing along to any tune around him. Throughout elementary school, Li had his parents record him as he stool on a bed or stool and sang the songs he had learned at school. “My parents said I was really expressive and energetic,” Li said. “Singing brought me a lot of joy, so I decided to join a choir and started training professionally too, and from there, my singing just improved more and more.” Li felt that his original choir was too big, so he joined Colorful Universe, a smaller choir with a community fit

for Li. He has privately trained with his current vocal coach, Eugene Brancoveanu, who has always made him feel comfortable while also presenting challenges that are just within Li’s capabilities. “I also really like the way he teaches — he explains how my body works as I sing, making singing feel less abstract,” Li said. Performing at Carnegie Hall as a finalist in the American Protégé International Vocal Competition 2020 is among Li’s most memorable achievements. Li and his friend won second place with a duet, granting them invitations to perform in New York City in December 2021. “Flying out to Carnegie Hall and performing there sounds like just a dream for a high schooler, so I’m really grateful to have had this opportunity,” Li said. Li views singing as a form of selfexpression that has helped him build up self-confidence, ultimately boosting his overall performance. As Li enters his final years of high school and prepares to graduate, he hopes to continue singing and further expand his self-confidence.

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY ASHLEY HUANG AND VALERIE SHU

Lynbrook Alumni: Jane Lee and Vishal Kalyanasundaram

PHOTO USED WITH PERMISSION FROM VISHAL KALYANASUNDARAM

Kalyanasundaram performs stand-up comedy.

Vishal Kalyanasundaram in Indian Matchmaking BY VIDUSHI UPADHYAY

alyanasundaram currently resides in New York State, far from his alma mater. He fondly recalls his time at Lynbrook and his senior year, during which he served as a Class of 2012 officer, and appreciates the ability given to students to pursue multiple passions. “When you go to college, you end up having one major, and in the workforce, you do one thing,” Kalyanasundaram said. “But what I now appreciate about high school was getting exposed to such a plethora of courses and getting the opportunity to explore myself.” Since high school, Kalyanasundaram’s perception of his culture and ancestry has shifted dramatically. He feels that internalized and externalized racism at Lynbrook influenced students’ perceptions of their own cultures, and an extreme focus on academics prevented them from partaking in cultural traditions. However, Kalyanasundaram’s recent debut on Indian Matchmaking has helped him reconnect with his culture and join communities where he’s able to experience more of it, through attending events for festivals like Diwali. “It’s been so great to be able to hang out in those circles and groups and keep learning about things I wasn’t exposed to before, and my knowledge and interest have only been growing,” Kalyanasundaram said. Kalyanasundaram recalls the process of interviews and filming the show as extremely

slow. After filling out a form indicating his interest in a show about Indian matchmaking, he and his parents went through multiple rounds of interviews over the course of many weeks, until he was accepted onto the show and set up to date a co-star for three to four weeks. Even within the haphazardness of the filming process, Kalyanasundaram has stayed friends with people he met through the show and values the friendships he gained through “Indian Matchmaking.” “The actual process of it was pretty fun,” Kalyanasundaram said. “Except for doing a breakup on camera, everything was good.” The show’s most immediate impact on Kalyanasundaram was teaching him to have thicker skin and laugh off others’ unsolicited opinions. “I don’t think I necessarily did anything that awful,” Kalyanasundaram said. “Things on TV are different from real life. But people just love talking smack about things, and now I’m learning to not really care and to be able to make fun of myself when other people say horrible things about me.” To Kalyanasundaram, one of the biggest benefits of being in the second season of “Indian Matchmaking” has been the numerous experiences he now recounts in his acts as a part-time stand-up comedian. Kalyanasundaram has continued to work full time at Google and is grateful for the flexibility his job provides. He uses comedy to share his experiences and often talks about his family and dating life. His passion for comedy began in middle school, but he made the decision to truly commit himself when he was between his first and second job. “I was looking for something to do with my time,” Kalyanasundaram said. “I didn’t want to just spend my time outside of work partying, watching TV or doing things that I didn’t think were good for the world. I wanted to create stuff and not just consume.”

Jane Lee takes the cake BY EMILY PEDROZA

orking full-time as a Senior Associate at Doordash and a part-time barista at Sue’s Gallery Café, she has remained rooted in San Jose. Her time at Lynbrook in the Class of 2015 was a mix of positives and negatives — while she acknowledges the overwhelming achievement-oriented culture, she reminisces about high school memories of supporting her teammates in Valhalla and conducting bake sale fundraisers. “Classes and homework — things you do in the moment eventually pass, but the connections and friends that you make will stick,” Lee said. Fresh out of high school, she started her first job at Main Street’s 85 Degrees, where she delivered fresh bread. Despite her passion for baking, time constraints led her to set aside baking until she graduated. Besides being a part of University of Pennsylvania’s cuisine magazine, Penn Appetit, Lee believed that UPenn’s creative opportunities were limited. Although being a part of such a large organization was inspiring, she craved more control in recipe development. “Study what you’re interested in and things will work out,” Lee said. “Once I started working, everything I needed to know was learned on the job, so ultimately it didn’t really matter what major I chose.” After graduating from college in 2019, she worked part-time at Paris Baguette, her first time hired officially as a baker. Looking back, she’s grateful for her first experience operating a commercial kitchen — operating the oven, donning an apron and earning the shop’s keys. Since graduating, she’s maintained parttime jobs to supplement her full-time jobs. “I love learning about other people, how they live and experiencing it next to them through working all these different jobs,” Lee said. “There’s a lot of value in immersing yourself in different kinds of work, next to a diverse set of people.” Born in Hong Kong, Lee moved to the U.S. when she was five, though frequently visiting her homeland. Food united her family members: strung around a dinner table,

sharing chopsticks, or people swarming to the cake, chanting ‘happy birthday!’ before blowing out candles. In middle school, she dreamed of being a chef, allured by the creative aspects of developing recipes and the unity it sparks. Lee takes Asian flavors that she grew up eating and incorporates them into recipes online. “It’s a strange experience being in between cultures, but I imagine a lot of Asian Americans can probably agree that their cultural ties have a lot to do with the flavors and foods that they grew up with,” said Lee. “Baking, to me, is putting a piece of myself into a tangible product that I can share with people and bring them together.” Lee started her baking blog, Cake Barn, to document her tweaked recipes, while her baking business started with friends requesting desserts through Instagram. Despite the stress of catering orders, Lee is moved by the trust of her customers. Her most popular item is the strawberry citrus shortcake: a Korean yuzu-jam infused vanilla chiffon cake, lemon-curd whipped cream layers, and topped with yuzu glazed strawberries. “It’s a very basic Asian bakery-style cake but I’ve nailed every part of it to the tee, people always ask for it,” Lee said. Balancing time is a challenge she struggles with, as her resources are constrained. Although she wants to do all she can to grow the business, her limited time is a barrier to some of her goals. Her ultimate goal is to eventually open her own cafe, drawing from her past experiences in the food industry. She wishes to create a welcoming space where customers feel comfortable ordering and connecting with the community. “I think somehow things just fall into place the way they’re meant to be. The best thing you could do for yourself is just to stay true to yourself and do what feels natural,” Lee said.

PHOTO USED WITH PERMISSION FROM JANE LEE

Lee with pastries that she sells at her bakery.

IN-DEPTH

the Epic

Flexing the issue: male body image The stigma surrounding body image has significant and widespread consequences: a survey from the National Eating Disorders Story continued from front page. Association found that around 30% of y the mid 1960s, the perception of teenage boys employ unhealthy weight a perfect body changed to thin and control practices, including fasting, purging, slender, influenced by popular icons laxatives and over-exercise. Repercussions such as The Beatles, David Bowie and Jimi aren’t just physical but psychological as well. Hendrix, all known for having androgynous Male body dissatisfaction has been linked to appearances. This ideal once again drastically greater rates of depression as well as anxiety shifted by the late 20th century, when and low self-esteem. Organizations like JED bodybuilding grew in popularity. Brad Pitt in and the Butterfly Foundation combat these the film “Fight Club” epitomized the desired effects by acting as treatment providers look: sinewy back muscles and a bulky body. to connect individuals with licensed In the current day, a new standard has been practitioners. FUHSD also offers mental set: the “superhero” build of toned muscles, health and wellbeing services in the form of abs and low fat. Care Solace. During the last 25 years, male body Men within the LGBTQ+ community dissatisfaction has are often increased from 15% disproportionately to 45%. A 2013 study affected by body described that 95% stigma. A study from of college-age men the University of Now, your value is are dissatisfied with Hawaii at Manoa found based on how you look their bodies on a that 58% of gay men or what you own versus certain level. Society’s routinely thought character or virtues. perception of what a about their appearance male’s body should look as compared to 39% Thomas Ellis, like can be dangerous of straight men. The Stanford Psychologist and unrealistic. study also reported gay “As a society, we’ve men feeling more often shifted to focus more objectified or judged. on appearance than Another study found a the whole person,” similar result among embedded psychologist for the Graduate transgender participants: transgender men School of Business at Stanford Dr. Thomas were more concerned with body image than Ellis said. “Now, your value is based on how cisgender men. you look or what you own versus character “I see a majority of my gay male clients or virtues.” concerned with their body and going to the The idolization of athletes sets a standard gym,” Ellis said. “Given the stigma against gay for males to be physical and sporty. Hollywood men — that they aren’t real men; that they and entertainment media feature specific are feminine or sickly — there’s a push for body types of superheroes and protagonists, health and fitness and an overcompensation shedding a positive light on a muscular body to be masculine.” and a negative light on others. For example, Today’s media culture of advertisements protagonist Batman is portrayed muscular and subliminal messages exploits body and strong, while villains such as Penguin are image as a marketing tactic. A report from overweight and rotund. the Advertising Association surveyed over “Our media tends to glorify male 1,000 boys and found that 41% believe the celebrities that have a hyper muscular media portrayal of men is unrealistic. physique as role models, such as Dwayne The classic bronze skin and six-pack Johnson or Chris Hemsworth,” said models in commercials advertise their view Henry Zhu, Senior Associate of Strategic of the epitome of Partnerships at The Jed Foundation and mental health advocate. JED is a nonprofit which develops teen social-emotional skills and helps suicide prevention. “The Western masculine body ideal is influenced by our emphasis on sports, jock culture and general perception in schools that those who are athletic are higher in social status.” BY JASON SHAN AND SAMIYA ANWAR

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY CALVIN ZHOU

64%

of male Lynbrook students are only somewhat comfortable with their body image ACCORDING TO A SURVEY OF 94 STUDENTS

manhood: the V-shaped mesomorph. Sexualization and nudity are also used to garner greater engagement. Although visual media is often digitally retouched to emphasize physique, many are unaware of the alterations and believe the models to be portrayed as realistic. A U.K.-based study conducted by BBD Perfect Storm found that 78% of surveyed men didn’t know anyone whose appearance was that of a “typical Gillette model”: lean body and chiseled jaw. “On social media, I see a lot of posts promoting the idea that all men should be 6 feet tall and have a lot of muscles,” junior Shaumik Kalwit said. “I don’t agree with these standards — I think all that matters is that you are healthy and taking care of yourself.” Social media also plays a large role in furthering unhealthy expectations. Images of toned abdominals, burly biceps and broad shoulders seem to fill the feeds of social media platforms when browsing about fitness. The elusive promise that these same results can be achieved through a specific workout regimen funnels views and online engagement toward similar posts. Through social media, men are increasingly shown shaped as action figures, with small waists, large chests and muscles. “Fitness being promoted on social media can push for a healthier lifestyle, but there’s also a fine line between working toward a ‘better’ body and using unhealthy ways to get that body,” senior Yechan Lee said. The model body has been circulated throughout social media and ingrained as an implicit means of publicity, even for those who create content unrelated to fitness. One study involving 1,000 Instagram posts, found that posts with men who appeared more lean or muscular received greater a u d i e n c e engagement of likes and comments. A n o t h e r study of 600 Instagram images

by Marika Tiggemann and Mia Zaccardo found that 60% of posts by men displayed high muscularity, implying a platform bias for conventionally attractive body types. “A lot of guys post progress checks of their body,” senior Alvin Sun said. “If the person isn't fairly built, they don't always get positive reactions. It seems to be the norm that you must be really muscular for it to be ‘acceptable’ to post your body on social media.” This bias can lead to detrimental dieting and exercise practices, especially among teenage boys. Researchers from Flinders University, Australia discovered that social media use was linked to eating disorders and body dissatisfaction regardless of gender, and other studies have shown that viewing posts of ideal body images made college male students feel worse about themselves. “There’s this thinking of ‘well, if I’m not thin and lean and look like a model, then I’m not valuable or attractive or I’m not a viable partner,’” Ellis said. “That mindset can cause depression, social anxiety and narcissism; in social media, you’ll see men who post hundreds of shirtless selfies or focus on their bodies. If they gained that body through steroids or other unhealthy means, then it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy where the social media attention positively reinforces the negative behavior.” However, social media does have its silver linings. A growing movement for body neutrality — accepting one's body for what it does rather than how it looks — and body positivity has pushed back on appearancecentric cyberspaces. “Although a lot of toxicity does exist on social media, encouraging posts and fitness inspiration are also a source of motivation for many people,” junior Rishab Motgi said. In fact, experiments illustrate that regarding the body through the lens of function-over-form reduces the stigma of weight. Aside from limiting social media use, healthcare consultants encourage healthy masculinity through cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness practices. “We must also normalize that it is OK to seek professional support for males who may be struggling with their body image and equip their support systems with the knowhow for how to initiate these conversations, referring them to care when necessary,” Zhu said. The first step to shedding a dysmorphic body image is acknowledging the issue. In order to overcome the cultural expectations of the perfect male body, it is important to not view the body as graduations of beauty standards but rather respect it and its importance in daily functions. “It takes a lot of time,” Ellis said. “Change doesn’t happen overnight. But the start to helping someone with body dysmorphia is helping them gain awareness of how they are a whole person and their value is not completely based upon their appearance.”

November 7, 2022

IN-DEPTH

The representation of the LGBTQ+ community in media BY ALYSSA WANG AND NEHA AYYER

H CT SE ION

n Disney’s recently released movie “Lightyear,” a short clip of a kiss shared by two women garnered much controversy, as some believed that it was inappropriate for children and furthered an insidious agenda. Others thought that the clip was insignificant and Disney should have done more to be inclusive of the LGBTQ+ community. Many other film industries have followed Disney’s footsteps in incorporating more LGBTQ+ characters into their scripts, thus influencing audiences’ views on the queer community. “Representation has gotten much better, but it’s not where it could be,” senior and GSA president Aarushi Desai said. “Making it less stereotyped, more normalized and having queer characters that are in the front and center of the screen are all things that could be improved.” Beginning in the 1900s, restrictions plagued the portrayal of the LGBTQ+ community in mass media. The Hollywood industry implemented a strict set of moral codes called the Motion Picture Production Code which was rigorously followed until the 1970s. These guidelines detailed what movies were allowed to portray, specifically how evil characteristics should not be given to the hero. With much of society viewing homosexuality as a sin during this time, many movie producers curated villains with stereotypically queer traits, such as being flamboyant and not following gender norms. This led to a surge in queer-coding characters, which despite not being explicitly stated, the audience knows a character is queer based on subtext. Disney was a popular perpetrator of this trope, with characters like Ursula from “The Little Mermaid” and Scar from “The Lion King.” Another trope that arise was queerbaiting — a marketing technique to make more people watch their show, where creators hint at but do not depict LGBTQ+ representation. A popular instance of this is Jane and Maura from the show “Rizzoli and Isles.” This program had many scenes depicting a possible relationship between these two women but played it off as a close friendship or joke. “LGBTQ+ representation in media has the power to make the community feel seen,” sophomore Allison Pan said. “However, it also has the power to make people outside the community fear queer people a little bit more when the characters are portrayed in a negative way.” Along

with the negative depiction of queer people, forms of entertainment emphasizing more there was huge backlash against the media on queer representation, people became representation of the LGBTQ+ community, more welcoming of the idea of LGBTQ+ with debate over whether certain movies representation in the media. should be allowed to be shown in theaters “Seeing someone like you on screen feels or to children. There was more positive good because it makes you feel seen and portrayal of the queer community starting understood,” Desai said. “It’s easy to be isolated in the 70s, but true progress began in the so it feels good that someone is acknowledging 90s and early 2000s with shows such as you, making you feel like your identity is valid and Ellen and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. These relevant.” TV programs displayed that being queer was However, as more shows introduce the LGBTQ+ not a bad trait and that people of the LGBTQ+ community, some shows and movies tend to highlight community are ordinary people as well. different identities over others. Many companies Many pieces of literature have also been tend to focus more on relationships of gay, lesbian banned due to their inclusion of LGBTQ+ or bisexual sexual orientations than ones like trans, content. In 2016, a few public libraries across asexual or pansexual. As of 2018, in the most famous the U.S. moved their collection of Young cable networks, 1% of characters are asexual and Adult queer books to 2% are trans - the percentage the adult section as of other identities excluding parents did not want gay, bisexual, and lesbian is their teenagers to read 5%, reported by Gay&Lesbian books with LGBTQ+ Alliance Against Defamation. Students’ identities themes. In 2022, the This can be seen in CBS shows, are made of so many novel “Gender-Queer” which not only rarely have was banned in various queer characters, but only different facets and it’s school districts due show those who are gay or important for kids to see to outrage over the bisexual. Netflix and HBO themselves in books. content of the book. have also recently canceled Some school districts in their shows “First Kill” Anna Kirsh, California have pushed and “Gentlemen Jack,” to ban LGBTQ+ content, both revolving around a English teacher such as “Carry On” by lesbian couple. Rainbow Rowell and “A lot of LGBTQ+ “57 Bus” by Dashka representation is Slate — both titles primarily focused featuring prominent queer characters. on gay men rather than lesbian shows “Many educators have tried to diversify which skews the representation of the their curriculum, and especially around community,” Pan said. here, changes have been made,” ninth grader Nevertheless, broadcast networks literature teacher Terri Fill said. “However, and film companies are beginning to other school districts and states ban, hire queer actors to play their queer especially, books with queer characters, so characters — a progressive change the issue of representation in the curriculum from when the industry would hire is still controversial.” straight actors to play the supposed Despite the fact that there is still a huge antagonist with stereotypical queer stigma against LGBTQ+ representation in the qualities. entertainment industry, many shows have Contrary to Florida’s “Don’t begun incorporating more queer characters say gay” law, schools are now into their shows — and not solely as the beginning to incorporate novels antagonist. The release of the 1997 show with queer characters into their “Buffy and the Vampire Slayer” resulted in literature education. As of last the beginning of major acceptance of queer year, Lynbrook’s ninth-grade representation as one of the main characters, literature teachers added Willow, a queer young woman. DC’s famous “Aristotle and Dante: Discover IC ILLUSTRATIONS B Y IN APH GR -D superhero show “Supergirl” added the first the Secrets to the Universe” EP T transgender superhero, Dreamer, who was by Benjamin Alire Saenz, portrayed by a transgender actor, leading to which is a coming-of-age an uprise of more queer main characters in story that includes same-sex shows which only increased during the 21st relationships and struggles century. Examples of these include Will and they have to endure. Jack from “Will and Grace,” which was one “Students’ identities are of the first few shows with queer characters made of so many different that were streamed on a mainstream channel, facets, and it is important and the recent show “Heartstopper” which for kids to see themselves in showcases many different aspects of the books – in this case, specifically LGBTQ+ community and the struggles they with queer representation, face while being out in a homophobic school. which is something that is not Additionally, Disney now wants at least 50% usually seen in the books we of all their characters to be part of the queer read in the classroom,” ninth and community as a response to Florida’s new tenth-grade literature teacher, “Don’t say gay” law which is causing a radical Anna Kirsh said. shift for children’s films. LGBTQ+ representation in “The writers should avoid adding obvious media impacts not only the queer tropes when writing LGBTQ+ into their community but also the younger media because it puts queer characters generation. Many entertainment into a box, which is counterintuitive to industries are actively working on the idea of writing them into media,” adding more queer characters and Pan said. the audience has been loving it. With major queer-focused shows on “I know a significant portion of the rise, other forms of entertainment the students here at Lynbrook who began following this trend. Video game are queer, even if they are not out yet,” companies have begun to add more Pan said. “It is really empowering to see queer characters for their players such that the school recognizes that we exist as Fuse in “Apex Legends” and the and is adding books with queer characters upcoming addition of the first transgender to make us feel more of a part of the school character, Dreamer, in Fortnite. With all these community.”

November 7, 2022

IN-DEPTH

The sexualization of Halloween costumes BY AMISHI CHANDRA AND LILLY WU

kin, undergarments and sexy clothing have become a major aspect of Halloween as party culture increasingly dominates the holiday. In response to this shift, a majority of teenagers and adults have chosen to stop wearing scary attire and begun to partake in more clubwear-based costumes. Originating in the Colonial era, Halloween came about in Europe as a night designated for telling ghost stories and playing pranks. Mimicking these traditions, American Halloween involved dressing up as ghosts and witches and going door to door, asking for candy. A major change occurred in the 1900s, with people beginning to dress up as popular figures instead of just scary apparitions. In the 1980s, gory costumes became popular after the release of the wellknown slasher movie “Halloween.” By the 2000s, costumes moved out of just the horror genre and people started to dress up as characters, such as politicians following infamous political scandals. As the 2010s came in, Halloween parties had become a crucial part of Halloween, a way for people to dress up with their friends. “Halloween is the one night a year when a girl can dress like a total slut and no other girls can say anything about it.” Quotes like this from the popular movie Mean Girls reflect the increased emphasis on promiscuous attire in the holiday, especially affecting teenage girls. The movie depicts girls being outcasted for choosing not to participate in wearing skimpy costumes, alluding to peer pressure as a factor in the rapid sexualization of the holiday. Since the 2000s, movies like these have dominated youth television, contributing to the popularization of sexy costumes. Influencers also perpetuate this, often dressing up in multiple costumes during

“Halloweekend” and posting on social media. “ H a l l owe e n has changed a lot since it was first started,” University of Manhattan Gender Studies professor Sharon Lamb said. “It is now more sexualized with people being pressured by their peers and role models to dress in a more exposing manner. TV shows and movies have also become more explicit, causing students to also dress up more exposingly.” Another costuming trend that has grown increasingly loved by students is anime cosplay. Also known as costume play, cosplay mimicks the look of certain fictional characters. Anime fans often portray their favorite characters through bright wigs, extravagant dresses and over-the-top makeup. Shows such as “Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai” and “Kill La Kill” feature female characters who are objectified or overly sexualized, resulting in costumes that mimic this trend, often worn by the minors watching them. “I dressed up as Bunny Girl Senpai, a sexualized character, one time for Halloween, and it was just to cosplay her,” senior Mars Fabila said. Sexy versions of certain occupations as costumes, such as nurses and policewomen are often a common choice. Often decorated with fancy names such as “Naughty Nurse” or “Lady Law”, these costumes sexualize the professions and give the public an altered image of them. Even a simple Google search of schoolgirls would show sexualized school uniforms while schoolboys would have a contrasting result. There is also a clear contrast between the

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY CALVIN ZHOU AND RICKI MURASE

sexualization of costumes advertised for women in comparison to those for men. According to a 2017 study by the West Chester University of Pennsylvania, while 90% of all women’s Halloween costumes are sexualized to some degree, only about 11% are for men. These women’s costumes usually involve short skirts, high heels, garters or fishnet stockings. “There is definitely a difference between male and female costumes and how they are marketed.” freshman Alessandra Wong said. “For example, women’s cat costumes are often very sexualized, but for men there are a variety of modest options.” However, revealing costumes can also be a source of empowerment, and representation

of ownership over one’s own body. A vital aspect of being a teenager involves newfound liberties, including the freedom to make one’s own choices when it comes to clothing and how they express themselves. Especially as children transition into partybased high school or college cultures, they grow more affected by their peers and the decision to dress a certain way. As Halloween has evolved beyond its original prank-based intent into an opportunity to let go and celebrate with friends, costume choices have respectively adapted, placing more importance on looks and glamor than horror or gore.

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SPORTS

the Epic

BY MINCHAE KIM // GUEST COLUMN

What it means to be a cheerleader

“W Student sections spark spirit BY EILEEN ZHU

rough start, due to an underwhelming amount of students who showed up. “Everyone was very quiet, and it was hants, cheers and colors: for the past football season, ASB has been super awkward to even try to get people to organizing student sections for cheer for our football team,” Ho said. The “White Out” student section at the next every Friday-night game to bring more spirit and excitement to the games. An game, on Oct. 7, showed great improvement, American high school tradition, student with more participation from students and sections are the most vocal section of the less uneasiness on the bleachers. Prior to bleachers reserved for students. In high the game, ASB decorated the bleachers morale, students arrive at football games and promoted the game’s theme on social media, which helped to in face paint, tutus, elicit more spirit from bandanas, glow students. sticks and more, “That sense of imbuing the football encouragement that field with energy. That sense of encouragement student sections bring “It’s such a new that student sections bring makes me feel like concept to people, makes me feel like I’m a part I’m a part of a really and not everyone has of a really spirited community spirited community,” been introduced to sophomore and the idea of a student Ishani Upadhyay cheerleader Ishani section,” junior and Sophomore and cheerleader Upadhyay said. ASB Public Relations ASB’s deciding factor commissioner to continue planning Alison Ho said. student sections was Although not the turnout at the yet a tradition Homecoming game, at Lynbrook, ASB has made their first attempts at a student section after seeing which was a success — the beachers were its rise in popularity on social media. Ho full and students initiated their own chants. “Seeing support from the students leads this project with the help of ASB definitely boosts our team’s energy and Social commission. “I think that it’s cool that we finally helps our morale,” junior and varsity football have a student section at our football player Dylan White said. An all-around increase in games,” senior Samantha Strand said. “I felt like there was a lot more spirit from the crowd, especially at the Homecoming game, with all the student supporters sitting together and participating in the Red Out theme for that night.” However, Lynbrook’s first attempt at a student section for the Sept. 23 game with a navy-blue theme was a

PHOTOS BY JASMINE RIHAL AND LILLY WU

positivity for most students, the student section proves to be effective in improving spirit. In addition to having student sections at football games, all the fall sports teams were contacted about promoting a student section for their senior nights. There was a large turnout at the games whose players promoted this, such as field hockey’s senior night, where everyone dressed up in hot pink to support Breast Cancer Awareness Month. “The cheers from the student section brought me hype during the game and helped drive our team to maintain the desire to win high,” senior and varsity field hockey player Avni Mangla said. Excited by the new concept of a student section, students look forward to enhanced themes for future games. “I felt like the themes were mainly related to school colors which is a good way to show school pride,” Strand said. “However, I would have loved to see themes like a Pink Out in October for Breast Cancer Awareness or dress-up themes like Beach Night.” Although ASB started out with simple themes, they have plans to have larger themes for the future football games. “I hope that next year, people will be warmed up to the idea of a student section, and we’ll be able to do themes that people can go all out for,” Ho said. “We have to start small and then slowly build up.”

hy did you join cheer? Cheer does not even do much,” people around me ask. Well, we as a cheer team do more than what people expect and think, and I tell them so. We cheer at sports games, perform at every rally and Valkyries show, raise money through fundraisers and most importantly, we commit a lot of our time. When I was still in middle school, high school cheerleaders were my idols. I had always envisioned myself in uniforms, attending football games and cheering with my teammates. Ever since then, I started asking questions about tryouts, and finally made it to the team I had idolized for years. However, after I joined the cheer team two years ago, I came to know the stereotypical judgements from others. They think cheerleaders are just there to sit and look pretty, gossiping about everything. Being weak, fragile and non-athletic are typical misconceptions people draw from cheerleaders. However, being on a cheer team involves a lot of commitments. We practice 10 hours every week, and it is a yearlong sport. We have practice every Tuesday and Thursday from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., and Saturday practice from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., moved to 9:00 a.m. if there was a game the night before. No time is wasted during these long practice hours. These practices are the most exhausting and intense 10 hours of my week. We use that time for stunting, tumbling, learning new choreographies and cheers. We must always use our time wisely and efficiently because the amount given to us is never enough. Nothing is easy when it comes to stunting. Stunting is group work where a lot of strength and concentration is required. It is very easy for someone to lose focus, leading to injuries, which affects our performances most of the time. This is why time management is very important as a team, to put all work together on time, and have enough time to practice. Moreover, we attend all home games for both football and boys basketball, which adds three extra hours to our weekly commitment. People often also do not know that cheer is an extreme sport, where lots of accidents and injuries can occur. There is a high risk of concussion, bruises, and pulled muscles among many other kinds of injuries. After every practice, we get new bruises everywhere: on our arms, legs, shoulders, chest and sometimes even on our faces. Pulled, sore and tight muscles everywhere are frequent as well. When stunting, we lift people up above our chests or heads, often even throwing them in the air and catching them. It may sound and look easy, but you never know until you actually try. Then why do I risk everything to be on the cheer team? The answer is simple: I love cheer. My passion motivates me to stay on the team no matter how I am viewed by other people. These motivations are never too great; learning a new stunt, watching one of the football players making a touchdown, and having teammates who tell me I am doing great. Just being on a team means a lot to me, and gives me pride. What others say does not matter much to me, because I am proud to be the cheer captain. I really hope students understand more about cheer and change their stereotypical views toward us. It is hard to understand everything about us and what we do, but just knowing a part of our commitment will go a long way.

SPORTS

November 07, 2022

Meet new Viking athletic trainer Scott Leveau BY JASMINE RIHAL

As Lynbrook’s athletic trainer, Leveau supervises many have never experienced before,” Leveau said. “Even though games on campus, and is always available to care for the needs my main goal is to take care of them, I also try to alleviate the prains, muscle spasms and concussions — Lynbrook’s of any athlete. Contact sports that are often more dangerous tension by incorporating humor into my patient care.” While monitoring new athletic trainer Scott Leveau tends to them all. and can cause acute injuries are given more games, Leveau often has Joining Lynbrook’s staff after its year-long search for attention. During the 2021-22 school year, two student assistants an athletic trainer, Leveau’s major responsibilities revolve Lynbrook did not have an official athletic trainer, so tensions arose among teams over who help him with tasks around aiding injured student athletes. such as setting up the Leveau grew up in San Francisco and began his career who would take care of the players at games. “It was scary because we felt like we equipment and treating when he joined the Marine Corps. During his time in the couldn’t get injured athletes with minor Marines, Leveau observed because there was injuries. a lack of care among the no one here to “When I took up this infantry — there was take care of us,” position I was really a stigma that soldiers junior and varsity interested in learning shouldn’t show weakness. PHOTO BY JASMINE RIHAL volleyball player about sports medicine,” It became his goal to Carrie Chern said. Leveau aids junior Jacky Wang at a football game. junior student assistant provide the support that “Now that we have Sonali Goel said. “Being he wished he received in an athletic trainer, m a n y an assistant athletic trainer is such an amazing learning the Marines and to show athletes, including myself, feel more experience. Leveau is a good mentor and a caring person.” others that it was okay to comfortable.” Leveau appreciates Lynbrook’s athletic environment be in pain. When an athlete suffers an and admires his athletes for being hard-working, ardent “One of my main goals injury, he or she undergoes a and open-minded. In the future, he hopes to continue to is to change that culture rehabilitation process in which they treat athletes and break through the negative connotations PHOTO BY JASMINE RIHAL and to instill the thought perform custom exercises assigned around showing pain and weakness. that it is okay to get help,” Leveau guides junior Dylan White through ACL physical therapy. by Leveau. After, athletes have non“I’m thankful that I’m here,” Leveau said. “These athletes Leveau said. contact practices coordinated by are passionate about what they do and they’re out there Having studied athletic the coaches so there is no risk of any excessive injuries. putting in hard work. They should be afforded someone who training in college, Leveau has worked as an athletic trainer “When I treat athletes I do my best to make them feel is always there to care for them and I’m glad that it is me.” aid for high schools in Southern Calif. and for the University comfortable because they may be in a situation that they of Southern California’s football team.

Claire Chen, Lori Liu and Cyrus Wong shoot for their passions BY AUDREY SUN

or senior Claire Chen and juniors Lori Liu and Cyrus Wong, archery is a process of self-discovery and an opportunity to spend time with their family. Chen first began her journey in archery while exploring outdoor activities with her father, while Liu was introduced to the sport when celebrating her 15th birthday. Wong grew interested in archery after attending a family gathering at a shooting range. Despite being intrigued by archery from a young age, it wasn’t until Liu’s 15th birthday, when her parents brought her entire family to an archery range, that she began to further explore the sport. Archery has since become a vital part of her life. Liu practices bi-weekly at Bow Hunter’s Unlimited and works on various typs of ranges, her favorite being trail ranges, which are hiking trails that have different targets stationed throughout the route. “Trail ranges allow me to better understand the different positions in archery and practice with a variety of targets,” Liu said. Wong also practices at ranges with a diverse set of targets. He enjoys archery because it allows him to relax outdoors while having friendly competitions with his friends and family. “A r c h e r y has taught me to

remain patient and maintain a positive mindset,” Wong said. “Practice also helps me critique myself in a healthy way to improve my future shots.” Archery requires concentration — it often takes a new archer many weeks to learn how to aim and build a solid foundation before being able to consistently shoot well. “A lot of archery is repetition,” Wong said. “You must remain calm after your shots, whether they are good or bad, to focus on the next.” Similar to Wong, Chen’s journey has also taught her to develop a focused mentality, which not only helps her in archery, but has also helped her strive to reach her fullest potential in everything else she pursues. “Whether it’s to steady my arm to release the bow, or to fully engage myself in a school project, I have learned to put my mind entirely on what I am doing,” Chen said. Missing shots in archery is normal — the hardest part of archery is staying concentrated. Liu’s biggest challenge is consistency. With the

overwhelming amount of thought an archer needs to take into consideration before taking a shot, it can be difficult for her to pinpoint her mistakes. “I sometimes get frustrated and impatient with myself,” Liu said. “Although there are off days for everyone, I really want to nurture myself to not blame outside circumstances for my shortcomings.” Liu’s practices are typically two hours long; she predominantly shoots from the 20-yard mark, but moves to the 30-yard mark when she wants to challenge herself. “As I shoot, I like seeing my shots becoming more clustered together and becoming closer to the bullseye,” Liu said. As Chen practices, she moves through the range 10 yards at a time, spending more time on the 30 and 40-yard mark to train her accuracy. She tries to use various types of bows to train all aspects of her archery skills. “I have become more precise in my shots, and my arms get stronger to draw bows with more tension,” Chen said. In the future, Liu, Wong and Chen all plan to continue pursuing archery as a hobby with their friends and family. “Overall, archery is a fun and fulfilling sport,” Wong said. “Not only can it teach athletes to reflect on their own performance, but it can also help them develop a healthy mindset.”

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATIONS BY\ ANUSHKA ANAD AND LILLY WU

November 07, 2022

SPORTS

Behind the recent success of girls varsity golf BY DEEKSHA RAJ

Story continued from front page.

he addition of five freshmen to the team was one of the factors of their success this year. The team also credits their team captain, senior Jibin Lee, and her positive energy for helping the team achieve their undefeated record. The team practices at the Deep Cliff Golf Course for four hours per week during their season, but most players also have personal trainers outside of school. Through hard work and perseverance, they defeated Los Gatos High School, Lynbrook’s most challenging opponent, securing their spot at Central Coast Section Championships. Los Gatos was leading throughout most of the game until two Lynbrook players, Junior Anne Xu and freshman Caitlin Yang, completely flipped the score.

“Our team was playing relatively badly against Los Gatos at first, and we were expecting to lose,” Xu said. “But I actually ended up playing well and helped us win, so that was a very proud moment for me.” All of the players take pride in the community they are involved in. Compared to their personal training, many players prefer playing as a team because it is more fun and motivates them to train harder for the improvement of the whole team. The team bonds through unique handshakes, fun games during practices and dinners together after games. They hope to maintain the relationship they have built throughout the season for the rest of the year, even when they’re not on the golf course together. The season concluded with a senior night party to celebrate Lee, the team’s only senior. After playing on the team for all four years of high school, Lee’s kind and optimistic personality has had a major influence on the underclassmen players.

“Jibin really brought the team together,” junior Anne Xu said. “She was always cheering the loudest at the end of games.” To celebrate her last home game, the team surprised Lee by buying hats that matched her iconic blue Nike hat. “I’m grateful to be a part of this community and to be able to bond over a sport we love,” Lee said. “It puts us in an environment where we’re able to collaborate with other people even though golf can be lonely, but this team has given me an opportunity to make many new friends.”

editors-in-chief amy liu elizabeth cheng managing editor anirudh seshadri copy editors sruthi medepalli timothy kim design editors catherine zhou sophie au

USED WITH PERMISSION FROM NOW & FOREVER STUDIOS. GRAPIC ILLUSTRATION BY LILLY WU AND SURYA SARAF

Pregame traditions motivate athletes BY KATIE CHIN

efore games, Vikings enhance team spirit through pregame rituals that have developed from the core of each team. A sense of unity arises from these traditions, creating lasting bonds between players. From wearing kilts to mooing like cows, the traditions of various teams boost athletes’ morale, imbuing the field with determination as the game begins.

“V PHOTO BY KATIE CHIN Football and cheer gift exchange

ikes!” echoes across the football field as the football team runs out to the center of the field, boosting school spirit and confidence leading into the game. Another of the team’s traditions is their gift exchange, during which the football and cheer teams create gift baskets for each other. “The gift exchange boosts cooperation and morale with those who support us,” senior Tristan Dowdell said. This year, the team has also begun praying at halftime. Even for non-religious players, the prayer is meant to keep the team safe and bring luck during the second half of the game. “These traditions help calm pre-game nerves because we’re reminded that we’re not out there alone, and that we have teammates to rely on,” Dowdell said.

eaping plates of steaming, savory pasta line an entire table in the cafeteria. Carb loading has long been a nutritional necessity for athletes before a race, and it’s no different for the cross country team. The evening before most races, the runners meet for pasta feed — a long-standing tradition in which they enjoy a high-carb meal as a team to fuel them for the impending race. “Pasta feed really helps to create time to spend with the team, which is important since we’re working together the next day to try to win,” senior Patricia Chang said. Runners often make homemade pasta to share with the team and though pasta feed primarily consists of salads, garlic bread and a wide assortment of pasta, the team makes sure to provide alternatives to satisfy the dietary preferences of all the athletes.

Valkyries moo-off

USED WITH PERMISSION FROM SONALI GOEL Field hockey kilts and bracelets

PHOTO BY KATIE CHIN Girls varsity basketball goalbook

ed and blue kilts dot the school prior to field hockey’s home games. The players wear plaid skirts, called kilts, to school on game days, a tradition started by Sandi Stober, the founder and former coach of Lynbrook’s field hockey team. To further honor Stober, the players run out to hit a rock on Stober Field, the founder’s namesake, before the start of each game for good luck; off the field, the players wear bracelets dedicated to her. “When we hit the Stober rock, we remember Sandi Stober and all the field hockey players before us, and that inspires us to do especially well on the field,” sophomore Brigitte Au. The team often holds pasta parties on Sundays before their game the next day. Hosted at a player’s house, drinks, appetizers, fruits, vegetables and desserts are served up, each course assigned to a different grade to bring. Following the meal, card games foster unity, and the team’s inside jokes often find themselves in the pre-game chant the next day.

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATIONS BY ANUSHKA ANAND AND SURYA SARAF

features editor katie chin in-depth editor neha ayyer sports editor susanna tang

PHOTO BY KATIE CHIN Cross Country pasta feed

opinion editor myles kim

business/pr manager anushka anand

rms glide gracefully through the air as legs kick with the rhythmic beat of the drum. Yet before it all, the sound of “moo’s” fills the afternoon air. Yet, a cow is nowhere to be seen — only two dancers, on all fours and face-to-face, mooing at the top of their lungs. Jello, a Simon-Says-style game ending with a moo-off is only one of the many games the Valkyries play prior to performances as a way of calming their nerves. “No matter how many times I’ve performed on stage, it’s always nerve-wracking,” junior Abigail Fong said. “It’s nice to get our nervousness out by just laughing and yelling.” Another of the Valkyries’ rituals is standing in a circle, linking pinkies with each other, and reciting a chant that ends with a “Good luck!” and with one person squeezing the pinky of another and the dancers going down the line, squeezing each other’s pinkies.

efore each game, the girls’ varsity basketball team can be found hunched over a binder, sketching a picture of the opposing team and filling its pages with goals for the game. “All the teams we play are very different,” junior Maggie Lam said. “Having specific goals for every game helps all of us focus.” Humorous graphics relating to their opponent and their mascot are scribbled throughout the pages of the goalbook. Short descriptions of the players’ goals for that game can be found scattered beside them. By the time the game begins, players can see all their teammates’ goals outlined on the page and plan their gameplay accordingly. “It’s nice to hear what other people want to achieve,” Lam said. “The goalbook allows our entire team to help each other achieve our personal and team goals.”

news editors chelsea lee sam sarma

web editors jason shan meera nambiar

A PHOTO BY SURYA SARAF

adviser josh miller

social media manager jasmine rihal staffers alyssa wang amishi chandra apurva krishnamurthy ashley huang audrey sun calvin zhou daeun chung deeksha raj eileen zhu emily pedroza inaaya yousuf larry wang lilly wu maple leung nicole ge qianzi loo riki murase samiya anwar sarah zhang surya saraf tanika anbu valerie shu vidushi upadhyay small print: the Epic is the official newspaper of Lynbrook High School and is a student-run open forum not subject to prior review, as protected under the California Education Code. Views expressed in the Epic do not necessarily reflect or represent those of the administration or faculty of this school or district. Letters to the Editor, guest columns and other materials to be considered for publication are welcome. Visit lhsepic.com/submissions for the guidelines and submission form. valued contributors: Yunhee Hong and Sanghoon Kim.

the Epic, Volume 58, Issue 2, November 7, 2022

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